Cricket
Batting PadsBatting pads are worn by
batsmen to protect their legs from impact with the ball. Balls can
travel at high speeds of up to 100mph and can cause lifelong injuries
if they hit the legs without protection, so these are integral when
batting.

Cricket
Wicket Keeping PadsThe Wicket Keeper also
wears pads; they can either wear normal batting pads, or specialist
wicket-keeping pads if they find themselves regularly behind the
stumps. They are similar, but shorter, and lighter to wear. This makes
them easier to move around in.

Both types
of pads are white when used in Test and first-class cricket, however
they may be coloured in limited overs cricket.

Both types
of pads have similar features:

•
Face – this makes up the largest surface area and is
separated vertically by rods; these different sections allow for the
pad to be wrapped around the shin.• Knee roll*
– this offers both improved protection to the knee and allows
the pad to flex and bend easily. Knee rolls are padded but do not
contain the stiff materials used in the other areas of the pad.• Top hat**
– this is the area above the knee roll and protects the lower
thigh.• Wings
– The wing design differs between batting pads and wicket
keeping pads. Batting pads have wings set up to add protection to the
areas it is needed most, but without adding weight to the pads. Wicket
keeping pads have wings that are placed on the outside of the each pad
for wrap around protection.• Straps
– The straps secure the pads to the legs and typically use
Velcro as a fastener. Depending on the brand, 2 or 3 straps can be used.• Instep
– the instep protects the lower shin and ankles and is
typically reinforced to prevent against excessive wear. • Inners
– these give extra padding and comfort to the wearer

* Some
wicket keeping pads do not have the knee roll. This is because they are
not subject to the same historical association of umpires using the
knee roll to help judge the height of ball in leg before wicket batting
decisions

** If a
wicket keeping pad does not have a knee roll, this is then just seen as
inseparable from the face.Sizing

Measuring
yourselfTo measure yourself for
the right size batting or wicket keeping pads, you should go from the
middle of your knee cap down to where the tongue of your cricket shoe
fits (the instep). The knee roll should always be positioned over the
knee when the pad is resting on the top of the foot.

Materials
Many of the materials
used apply to both Batting and Wicket Keeping pads; batting pads are
heavier and as such tend to use higher density materials.

LeatherLeather has long been
used in the manufacture of cricket pads; it is durable and offers good
resistance against the ball. It is a traditional material but is used
less in modern pads as lighter, cheaper and more durable products come
available.

PVCPVC has been used as a
leather replacement. It offers more durability than leather and comes
at a cheaper cost. It is also very easy to keep clean. The downside to
PVC is its eco-friendliness; it is difficult to recycle and this is
off-putting to many wearers.PU PU is the most modern
leather replacement; short for Polyurethane, it offers many of the same
benefits as PVC but is easier to recycle. FibreglassFibreglass
reinforcements are sometimes used to give greater stiffness to the
pads. Fibreglass is a common material and as such falls into the
cheaper category of materials. CaneWooden cane rods offer
rigid support to the pads, especially on the face sections. They are
cheap to source and often used in conjunction with fibreglass. CottonCotton wadding is often
used in cricket pads as it is cheap to source from the leftovers of the
weaving industry. It also, more importantly, offers great shock
absorption and protection against impact.
Depending on how much wadding is used, it can be quite heavy and impact
the flexibility of the wearer.Aramid FibreAramid synthetic fibres
offer great shock absorption and strength; they are also extremely
lightweight. Commonly used in bulletproof vests, you’ll most
likely know of them by their tradenames; Kevlar,
Twaron, Technora or Nomex. They are used in cricket pads to replace the
cane rods (although sometimes used alongside) and can be mixed with
fibreglass to enhance the stiffness and protective qualities of the
pads.

High
Density FoamsHigh density foams are
often used in the creation of cricket pads as they are extremely
lightweight whilst offering great shock absorption. The type of foam
used depends largely on where it will be placed in the pad, as the
density of the bubbles within the foam define its characteristics. For
pads that need to offer high shock protection, foam with small bubbles
close together is best, whereas foam with large bubbles is better for
flexibility. Often, different types of foams are used across the pads
for the optimum combination. Some cricket wicket
keeping pads are made almost entirely of high density foam. This is
because it does not matter what sound the ball makes when it hits them,
whereas it does matter for batting pads.

Cricket
Pad MaintenanceIt is important to keep
both batting and wicket keeping pads clean and free from dirt. Not only
does this make them look professional, but also means the dirt does not
become ingrained.Depending on the pads
you buy, you may or may not have removable/washable inners. If you do,
then we’d recommend removing and washing these after each
match, as dirt and sweat will settle into them. However, if you do not,
then place the pads in a well ventilated area to ensure they dry
through thoroughly. Fabric fresheners can limit the long-term build-up
of bad odours in the inners.Purchasing factorsShock absorption and
protection should be utmost in your mind when choosing which pads to
buy, both for batting and wicket keeping. Whilst price is also an
influencing factor, higher priced pads tend to also give increased
comfort levels, both in terms of wear ability (wider straps, softer
materials, removable inners) and weight. Increased prices do not
necessarily mean increased protection, as this is the most important
factor of any pad and should not be compromised.